Button-attaching machine.



No. 738,435. PATENTED SEPT. 8,1903.

A. HALL. BUTTON ATTAGHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION TILED r1213. 23. 1901. no MODEL.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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PATENTED SEPT. 8, 1903 A; HALL. BUTTON ATI'AGHING MACHINE! 2 SHEETS-SHEET m.

7 APPLIOATION FILED nn. 23. 1901. no MODEL.

BY @A 1%. ATTORNEY v fn mu\ I iatented September 8, 190

PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT HALL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BU'l'TON-ATTACHING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 738,435, dated se tember' 8, 1903. I Application filed February 23, 1901. Serial No. 48,609. (No model.)

To ctZZ iufwm it may concern:

Be it known thatl, ALBERT HALL, a citizen of theUnited States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of the BronX, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Button-Attaching Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a new and improved machine for attaching pronged metal buttons to articles of wearingapparel, which machine is simple in construction, strong and durable, and fastens the but tons firmlyand securely without breaking or distorting the buttons or injuring the fabric.

In the accompanying drawings, in which like letters of reference'indicate like parts in all the figures, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved machine for attaching buttons.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional View through the button-guide and plunger-guide. Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the plunger-guide,

parts being shown in vertical sectional view on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4.. Fig. 6 is a detail verticalsectional View of the plunger and but ton-supporting plate. Fig. 7 is a side View, partly in section, of the button-supporting plate and mechanism. Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view on the line8 8 of Fig. 4. Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the button-guide, showing the escapement-slide. Fig. 10 is a sectional view on the line 10 10 of Fig. 5, showing the escapeinent-slide. Fig. 11 is a sectional View on line 11 ll of Fig. 3.

The entire mechanism is supported by a standard A,'secured to a suitable base-plate A, and this standard is provided with a horizontally-projecting arm B, the free end of which carries the anvil 0, upon which the fahric a is rested, whercon the button is to be secured. The anvil 0 consists of a central stem 0, having its upper end recessed and shaped so as to turn inward, the ends of the prongs d projecting from the under side of the button Z). This central stem is surrounded by a sliding sleeve which is pressed upward by a helical spring 0 resting on the base of the central stem 0. The fabric is placed upon the top of the sleeve 0 which is some distance above the top of the central stem 0 and is pressed up by the spring 0 so that when the plunger forces the prongs (1 through the fabric a, resting on the sleeve C said sleeve does not descend, but only descends under the pressure of the plunger when the ends of the prongs d are being turned inward by the recessed and shaped upper end of the central stem 0 of the anvil. The standard A is also providedwith an upwardly-extending arm D, which is curved approximately on a semicir cle and on the free end of which the vertical guide D for the vertically-reciprocating plunger D is formed. The plunger D is provided with a recess D for receiving the toe D on the end of a curved lever E, pivoted in a longitudinal slot or recess in the arm D, that end of the lever E opposite the one acting on the plunger D being connected pivotally by an adjustable connecting-rod E with the upper end of a lever E the lower end of which is pivoted to the base-plate A, so that the levers E and E form a toggle-lever, the knucklejoint E 'of which is connected by a connecting-rod E with the upper end of a foot-lever E pivoted at E to a bracket E projecting from the standard A below the arm B on said standard, and which lever E is provided at its lower end with laterally-extending treadle E A helical spring E acts on the togglelever to return it to its normal position.

a By pressing the treadle E toward the standard A--that is, toward the left, Fig. l-the connectingrod E is pulled to the right, whereby the left-hand end of the lever D is moved upward and the plunger D is forced downward, and thereby forces the prongs of the button below it through the fabric and upon the central stem of the anvil, whereby the said prongs are turned inward. Below the plunger a button-supporting plate F is located, which is provided with a recess F, through which the shank and prong of the button can pass, the edges of the said recess being provided with a rabbet F for receiving the head of the button.

The plunger-guide is extended upward at an inclination as an arm J, on the face of which a button-guide slot 1 is formed by two angle-pieces I, secured on the face of this arm and on the front of the plunger-guide. The

lower ends of the pieces I are inclined toward the bottom of the front of the plunger-guide, as shown at 1 Figs. 1 and 4:.

An escapement-slide K is mounted between the front of the arm J and the plates I. to reciprocate transversely and is provided with a pin K, projecting from the rear side, which pin enters a notch K in the upper end of a trigger-lever K pivoted at K to the back of the vertical part of the arm J, which lever is provided in one edge with'a recess K the ends of which form cams, upon which a bracket-pin L can act,which projects upward from the upper end of the plunger D 4 The escapement-slide K is provided with a vertical opening M, extending from top to bottom, of a sufficient size for the button-head to pass through it, and in its front the slide K is provided with a slot M, through which the shanks and prongs can pass, this slot being formed on a curved line, so that the lug m is formed on the left-hand side of said slot at the bottom and the lug m on the righthand side of said slot at the top, said lugs being displaced vertically, as shown in Fig.

9. As the plunger rises the bracket-pin L rises with it and strikes the upper beveled end of the recess K in the trigger-lever K, whereby the escapement-slide K is moved to the right, Fig. 5, which corresponds to a movement to the left of Fig. 9, as Fig. 9 is a front view and Fig. 5 is a back view. By such movement of the escapement-slide to the left, Fig. 9, the lug m passes from under the shank of the button in the slot M, permitting said button to drop to the lower end of the button-guide slot formed between the plates; but at the same time the upper prong 'm is moved into the slot 1" of the button guide, thus preventing the button next above the one that has just been released from dropping. Vhen the plunger D descends, the bracket-pin L descends with it and strikes the lower beveled end of the'edge of the recess K in the edge of the lever K whereby the escapement-slide K is swung toward the left, Fig. 5, which corresponds to a movement toward the right, Fig. 9, whereby the lowest button in the button-guide above the escapement-slide K is permitted to pass into the slot M; but it cannot pass through said slot, as the bottom lug m is within the slot 1 and arrests the button, keeping it in this position until the plunger again rises. Then this button in the slot M is released and permitted to drop in the mannerjust previously described. r

The plate F is provided at its ends with the side arms F which extend upward to the sides ofthe plunger-guide D and are pivoted on pins F projecting through vertical slots F in the sides of the guides D,which pins project from cylindrical heads F on the upper ends of rods F which project beyond the bottom of the guide D.

' The heads F can slide vertically in bores F in guide D and are pressed upward by helical springs F surrounding the rods F within said bores. These springs press the plate F against the lower end of the guide D. One of the arms F? of the plate F is provided at its upper end with an upwardly-extending arm G, having its upper end rounded, and this rounded end can impinge on the lower edge of an inclined cam-arm G, projecting upward from one side of the guide D, so that said arm G can strike it when the plate F is forced upward by its springs F A trigger-pin G having a beveled end, is guided in a transverse tubular guide G on the outer surface of one arm F of the plate F and is pressed outward by a helical spring G A pin G projects laterally from one side of the guide D, and its topis beveled to coact with the beveled end of the trigger-pin G as shown in Fig. 7.

A U-shaped button-guide frame H is pivoted to the sides of the guide D in such a manner that its cross-piece H extends across the guide-slot I at the lower end thereof and is provided with two downwardly-projecting curved guide-arms H A spring H acting on an arm H projecting upward from the frame H, presses the arms H into position below the guide. When the plunger D descends to clench a button, it forces down the plate F with it, and as the beveled end of the trigger-pin G strikes the beveled top of the pin G the trigger-pin is forced into its guide G and does not interfere with the downward movement of the plate F.

' When the plate F is forced upward by the action of the springs F the fiat top surface of the trigger-pin G strikes against the flat under side of the pin G and this throws the plate F outward and away from the buttonjust applied. The pins F, by which the arms F are pivoted, are located in a plane some dis tance from the end of the trigger-pin G and thus when the plate F and its side arms F are forced upward under the action of the spring F the pin G acts as a fulcrum for the trigger-pin and throws the plate F outward. If the pin G would be in line-with the pivots of the arms F then this outward swinging movement could not take place. By this swinging movement the trigger-pin G is moved from under the fixed pin G and they are thus disengaged, and the side arms F can move upward under the action of the springs F The upper end of the arm G on one side arm F of the plate F strikes the cam-arm G, and this throws the plate F back into its normal position under the guide D and plunger D as shown in Figs. 4, 6, and 7. The plate F thus automatically clears the button that has been applied, thus permitting of pulling the cloth forward into position for receiving the next button withoutrequiring a short reverse movement of the cloth for disengaging the button just applied from the plate F, and so on. As stated, a

button slides down the guide-slot I when the plunger rises, and this button rests upon the plate F, to which it has been guided from the lower end of the slot I by the guide-arms 1-1 asshowninFig. 6. ThedescendingplungerD presses the guide-arms H outward, Fig. 4; but when the plunger rises the spring 11 brings said arms back to the normal position against the edge of the plate F, so as to form a continuous guide for the button to said plate F.

A disk N is attached to the upper end of the inclined plate of the arm J, so as to have the same inclination to the vertical as said arm, and this disk is provided with a circular recess N, in which a second disk can rotate, which disk 0 rests on the bottom of the recess N, the disk 0 being provided in its outer surface with a series of radial grooves 0, having their inner'ends rounded andhavinga width slightly greater than the diameter of the head of a button, so that the button-heads can pass into said radial grooves, as shown in Fig. 2.

A series of brackets P are secured on the ribs between the recesses O and to a hopper P, which is provided in its top with an opening Q, through which a quantity of buttons can be placed into the hopper.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, a flange R extends partly around the outer edge of the disk N, so as to close the outer ends of the recesses O of the plate 0, thereby preventing the buttons from sliding out of said recesses. This flange extends about half-way around the disk, but is omitted at the remaining half, which remaining half has arranged along the edge of the disk a flange R, which is a distance from the ends of the recess O and brackets P slightly greater than the diameter of the button-shank, so that the button-shanks can pass into the groove or guide formed by said curved angle-piece R and the inner ends of said brackets P, as is clearly shown in Fig. 2. The plate 0 has secured to it a shaft 0 carrying a transverse pin 0 which can pass into a transverse groove 0 in the lower end of the sleeve 0 surrounding the pin 0 so that when the sleeve 0 is turned the pin 0 and with it the shaft 0 will also be turned. A ratchet-wheel S is held by a screw S, passed through its neck, on the sleeve 0 and is engaged by a spring-pawl S of the rocking arm S mounted to rock on the sleeve 0 and resting on the n'eck N of the disk N, which rocking arm S is connected by a connecting-rod N with an extension N of the lever E, so that every time the lever D is operated the ratchetwheelS is turned the distance of one tooth, as is also the disk 0. A quantity of buttons are placed in the hopper P and by the rotation of the same gradually guided into the several recesses O, in which they slide out ward and pass into the button-guide, down which they slide, the lowest button resting upon the escapement slide K; For each stroke of the plunger downward a button is released, as previously described, and defastened button.

scends until it rests upon the latch-plate F, which is swung out, as described, for every Then the button is forced through the fabric and clenched on the anvil, as described, and so on. On top of the standard A a recessed knife T is secured, which is used in conjunction with a blade T, attached to a lever U, and serves for cutting buttons off the fabric when this becomes necessary.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a button-attaching machine, the combination with a plunger, of a button-guide having its lower end inclined toward the lower end of the plunger, a vertically-sliding button-supporting plate mounted to swing in the direction from the lower end of the guide from the plunger while moving upward, and means for so swinging the plate, substantially as set forth. I

2. In abutton-attaching machine, the combination with a plunger, of a button-guide having its lower end inclined toward the lower end of the plunger, a button-supporting plate mounted to move vertically and to swing in the direction from the lower end of the guide toward the lower end of the plunger, said plate being in the path of the descending plunger and means for swinging the plate from and toward the plunger during the upward movement of the plate, substantially as set forth.

3. In a button-attaching machine, the combination with a vertical movable plunger and a guide for the same, of a button-guide on the front of the -p1unge1-guide, which button-guide has its lower end inclined toward the lower end of the plunger, a button-sup porting plate mounted to slide vertically on the plunger-guide and to swing toward and from the same, means for swinging this supporting-plate toward and from the plungerguide during the upward movements of said plate, a U-shaped button-guide frame pivoted to the plunger-guide, the cross-piece of said pivoted guide-frame extending across the inclined lower end for the button-guide,

a spring pressing said cross-piece on said inclined part at the lower end of the buttonguide, and downwardly-projecting arms on the cross-piece of the pivoted guide-frame, substantially as set forth.

4. In a button-attaching machine, the combination with a plunger and a button-supporting plate having upwardly-projecting arms by which it is pivoted and mounted to move vertically, the supporting-plate being below the plunger, of a spring-trigger on one of the arms of said plate, a fixed pin for engagement with said trigger, a fixed cam in the path of one arm of said button-support ing plate and located above said arm, substantially as set forth.

5. In a button-attaching machine, the combination with a plunger, of a button-supporting plate below the plunger, and having up* wardly-extending arms, vertically-movable guides towhich said arms are pivoted,a springtrigger projecting beyond the vertical plane through the pivots of said arms and having its upper surface flat and its lower surface beveled, and a fixed pin having its under side flat and its upper side beveled, substantially as set forth.

of guides mounted to move vertically in said plunger -guide, a spring for pressing said guides upward, a button-supporting plate below the plunger-guide and in the path of the descending plunger, upwardly-extending arms on said plate, pivots by means of which said arms are pivoted to the movable guides in the plunger-guide, and means for throwing said button-supporting plate from and toward the plunger during the upward movement of said plate, substantially as set forth.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York and State of NBW'YOlk, this 14th day of January, A. D. 1901.

ALBERT HALL.

Witnesses:

OSCAR F. GUNz, A. SMYTH. 

